Toxics

The world’s most widely used insecticides would be banned from all fields across Europe under draft regulations from the European commission, seen by the Guardian. The documents are the first indication that the powerful commission wants a complete ban and cite “high acute risks to bees”. A ban could be in place this year if the…

Americans reject terminals, so Wyoming’s coal heads to Asia through the Lower Mainland. By Ariel Ross Today | TheTyee.caAriel Ross is the Beyond Coal campaigner with Dogwood BC. If you’ve ever been to the ferry terminal in Tsawwassen, you’ve seen them. The big, black piles of coal framed against the mountains as you drive down the causeway. But not all coal…

Scotland has stopped generating electricity from coal for the first time in more than 100 years, as its Longannet power station, north of the capital Edinburgh, switched off the last of its four generating units. Its owner, Scottish Power, said the high cost of connecting to the grid was to blame. The power station used…

EU nations have refused to back a limited extension of the pesticide glyphosate’s use, threatening withdrawal of Monsanto’s Roundup and other weedkillers from shelves if no decision is reached by the end of the month. Contradictory findings on the carcinogenic risks of the chemical have thrust it into the centre of a dispute among EU and…

By David Suzuki with contributions from David Suzuki Foundation Senior Editor Ian Hanington. The shift from fossil fuels to renewable energy is occurring mainly at the power plant level. But what about transportation? Can we significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions by switching to cleaner fuels? Or is this just an attempt to keep 20th century…

The San Diego City Council voted Tuesday to ban single-use plastic bags at grocery stores, pharmacies and corner markets. The goal of the new ordinance is to encourage shoppers to use reusable bags, decreasing the number of plastic checkout bags used every year. San Diego goest through roughly 700 million plastic bags a year, with only 3 percent of…

Malta has begun the process of banning glyphosate, the main ingredient in Monsanto’s Roundup. Malta—the only country to actively vote against the extension of the chemical’s use—has already seen 25 localities ban the substance. It would be the first EU country to ban glyphosate nationwide. Though, France is currently considering their own ban. “Malta’s position remains against the use of glyphosate…